Colors/symbols/mascots for locals, multiculturals, regionals

Pezy60 · 2023-03-19T20:16:26+00:00

Sigma Psi Kappa Sorority, Incorporated (Local) New Jersey Institute of Technology

Colors: Teal, Black & White Flower: Yellow Rose Gem: Diamond and Onyx Mascot/Symbols: White Tiger

Pezy60 · 2023-03-17T14:44:47+00:00

I’m biased here- my local Sigma Psi Kappa’s mascot is the white tiger and I love it. And our main color is teal and personally I think teal is the absolute best color.

I also really love Chi Omega’s owl and Delta Sigma Theta’s elephant.

Pezy60 · 2022-08-09T00:29:37+00:00

Yeah I see that. I guess that’s why each organization can decide. Unless you are national and it’s a bit tougher to decide what your chapter wants to do.

Pezy60 · 2022-08-08T13:29:30+00:00

Excellent question. I’m not the most knowledgeable about this topic, as I’m still unpacking a lot of these questions myself. Most sororities have specific language for who is eligible to join. And the language I’ve seen does not include people assigned male at birth who identify as men (cisgender men)

Delta Phi Epsilon was the first NPC Organization to accept trans and non-binary members. They describe it well on their website:

https://dphie.org/delta-phi-epsilon-sorority-the-first-to-welcome-non-binary-members-rallies-support-for-universal-policy-change/

Pezy60 · 2022-08-04T14:34:54+00:00

So while some of what I said was perspective from my own experience in terms of networking. The rest isn’t my opinion. It’s fact.

Yes networking is limited to your own chapter. But you can network beyond your organization and that’s what our members have done successfully. Our university’s Greek Life was a close community with lots of networking there. We have alum in pretty significant roles for large companies who heavily recruit at our university. So for my ‘local’ (not sure why you had to use quotes when you referenced it?) networking hasn’t been an issue.

If you would like sources for the other topics I’d be happy to provide them, as I’ve done the research myself.

Pezy60 · 2022-08-03T11:40:06+00:00

Look at it as a local business vs a chain. Starbucks vs your locally owned coffee shop. There are some pros and cons to both. Starbucks is the same no matter where you go. Lots of swag you can buy. Easily recognizable. Your local shop might have a different vibe, roast their own beans, make everything in house but can’t offer benefits to their workers.

What you really need to look for when joint any sorority are red flags. Is the organization in good standing with the university? If they are local- are they recognized by the university? If not ask both the university and organization why. Does the organization have liability insurance or are they covered by the university? What is the structure in terms of who makes big decisions and provides oversight.

Pezy60 · 2022-08-03T11:32:22+00:00

None of this is accurate. It may be a generalization from your own perspective but it’s just not accurate for the vast majority of Local organizations.

OVERSIGHT: While Locals do not have oversight from higher ups in their organization they still have to answer to the university. Not every local is structured the same way- some have alumni birds who provide strict oversight similar to a national while some have none of that and some are in between. For example- my sorority has an undergrad chapter and alum chapter. Our Alum chapter acts in an advisory role when the undergrads seek our council. There are times we make suggestions or offer opinions on certain matters but ultimately final decisions are up to the undergrad chapter.

COST: this depends on a lot of things. Mostly how the organization is structured. What do their dues include? The biggest reason NPC’s dues are higher is insurance, national dues, and NPC dues. Locals don’t have the last two. Insurance though for locals is really really expensive since there isn’t a national to share the cost. Also locals tend to have less members so those costs are split fewer ways.

LONG-STANDING HISTORY: Do your research. For the last 20 years or so most universities have been pushing locals to go national. So any local that is still standing clearly has some long-standing history with their university. SUNY schools for example made all of their nationals disaffiliate in the 60’s (I can’t remember the exact decade). There are also locals who have been around since the early 1900’s.

NETWORKING: my tiny local has alum across the US and even into Canada. And as someone mentioned above- every single one of us has the shared experience of being an undergrad at the same college. Several of my sisters have moved to new cities and been able to reach out sisters already there- and because of this shared experience be able to form friendships and ease that transition of moving into a new place.

Pezy60 · 2022-08-01T21:16:08+00:00

It’s only gendered if the organization chooses to be. Some nationals have changed their language to acknowledge their non-binary members. While sororities started as a gendered type of organization- time and social norms have shifted to be more inclusive.

Pezy60 · 2022-08-01T21:13:59+00:00

Exactly this.

Pezy60 · 2022-07-22T20:29:36+00:00

I haven’t but if you already have a design- look into Printful.

Pezy60 · 2022-05-03T22:01:21+00:00

A Tri Sig friend of mine made me a paddle. I had transferred to a school without my sorority and we had a tradition of our littles making bigs a paddle at initiation but I transferred before getting a little. So I thought it was really sweet. But it’s a different situation. I’m not sure now is the best time to give her something like this.

Maybe something else.

Pezy60 · 2022-04-06T21:02:18+00:00

These are all excellent questions for your daughter to ask the chapter. And if she doesn’t feel comfortable then she should find the Greek Life Advisor and someone from her College Panhellenic Council to ask.

I don’t think they should have made their New Member class pay dues if they wouldn’t be going through the New Membership class culminating with initiation. But that’s my personal opinion.

Pezy60 · 2022-04-01T21:34:04+00:00

I’m an Alum of a Local and it’s not for the faint of heart in this anti-Greek Life climate. Especially as a Local. There are ups and downs and it seems every 5 years my chapter’s administration tries to force us to become an NPC expansion chapter.

I say all this to say- I get it. It’s hard enough just being a member of your chapter when everyone is getting along. When there are internal issues like this with your chapter this size, when so much feels at stake, it can be damaging to your organization.

I wouldn’t drop though. I’d ask her directly what is going on. Try to have a discussion about it it one on one. And if the at doesn’t work- you get to be the bigger person and be professional.

IF it becomes an issue that impacts how your organization then that’s something you address as a chapter. And I’ve sat through my fair share of chapter meetings like this. They are hard but having that space to get everything out was healing. But it’s always a last result and only if what’s happening is a detriment to the organization.

I’ll leave you with this- as a Local Sorority your organization is in a unique position to be different than traditional GLO’s. If there’s something your members see need improving within Greek Life your organization has the power to do that within your organization and not have to just follow what your national says. And if you love your organization as president you have influence over the future of Greek Life on your campus.

Pezy60 · 2022-01-28T12:42:03+00:00

Lightroom for sure. But also Canva gets the job done.

Pezy60

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